The College of West Anglia has opened its doors to a fresh intake of degree students this month and on Thursday 22nd September formally launched the brand new £6.5 million University Centre, at the King’s Lynn Campus, situated on Tennyson Avenue. The amenities were officially opened by Principal David Pomfret and Chairman of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Mark Pendlington, before guests, staff and students were treated to a tour of the innovative facilities. At 2,000m², the building is solely for higher education students and houses full and part-time higher level education and training. It has 14 digital classrooms, a 120-seat multimedia lecture theatre, offices, a substantially sized board room and a large ground-floor social area for exclusive use of higher education students. The modern space offers quiet break-out zones in a colour scheme of mustards, blues and greens. Students can take advantage of tablet and smart phone charging points, meeting zones and multiple kitchen areas. Classrooms are designed to cater for smaller seminar-sized classes or larger learning groups, with sliding partition doors to adjust room sizes. Each classroom is fitted with a large interactive screen, adjustable lighting and all rooms have wall-to-floor windows to keep the learning environment airy and light. The University Centre is delivering higher education programmes accredited by Anglia Ruskin University, across a range of areas including business management, science and technology. It is the only higher education teaching and learning facility currently available within a 35 mile radius of King’s Lynn; crucial both for the education and training needs of local people and for the success of businesses in West Norfolk and Fenland. CWA Principal David Pomfret said: “The addition of this University Centre to the college’s facilities is a great step forward for education in West Norfolk. This has been made possible thanks to the support of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and the West Norfolk Partnership. “I am thrilled that we are now able to offer a considerably greater range of degree level courses at our site on Tennyson Avenue, King’s Lynn. I am confident that the new facilities will inspire people in the surrounding area and beyond to push themselves to take that next step in their education, developing their skills and supporting the prosperity of local businesses.” The college’s bid was supported by the West Norfolk Partnership and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) with £6.5 million from the LEP’s Growth Deal with Government. Mark Pendlington, Chairman of New Anglia LEP, said: “This wonderful new University Centre will play a vital role at the heart of our growing economy. More students will now have more choice to shape and develop their future careers, and a world of opportunity awaits them here in the East as our economy continues to grow. This area is one of the best places in the UK to live, work and learn, and businesses are eager to attract new talent and those with energy and commitment to help drive investment and growth. The University Centre will quickly build a great reputation as a hotbed of talent and potential, which is a tribute to David Pomfret and the excellent team that has delivered this exciting project. I wish all the students every success for the future, as we all celebrate today the strong vote of confidence this brings to our region.” Cllr Alistair Beales, Borough Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Industrial Assets, said: "The opening of the University Centre is excellent news for King's Lynn and West Norfolk. We have long supported the concept of a higher education facility in West Norfolk and worked closely with the College of West Anglia to develop their bid. We also funded the design of the facility on the college campus. “Now that this facility is open it will provide more opportunities for students and offer a wider range of courses. Businesses frequently tell us how difficult it is to recruit people in the top end of the job market. Having a facility like this in King’s Lynn will make it possible for people to do the training they need in order to take advantage of local business opportunities. It will help ensure that King’s Lynn becomes the go to place for businesses to invest and grow.” [gallery grids="News" image_size="medium" size="medium" ids="10974,10975,10976,10977,10978,10980,10981,10982,10983,10986"]